Birth records are 'vital' records

Birth — it's the first thing that ever happens to us. It marks the moment in which our priceless lives begin and is celebrated annually within cultures all over the world. Ask any teenager waiting to get a driver's license and they'll tell you that their birth date is a vital piece of information.

When attempting to learn about where we came from, a simple and often overlooked way to do this is investigate the very day we were born. Researching in old newspapers might help us understand the world environment into which we were being thrown, but the actual birth record can offer specific information about the moment and place we took our first breath.

As you might expect, birth records show names of the newborn and the parents, birth date, birthplace, the attending physician, nurse or mid-wife, and time of delivery. In some cases, birth records report complication that might have happened during the delivery. In cases where the death of a new-born child occurred, there may only be a death record registered, which would show both the birth and death information.

Sometimes the information found on a birth record can be surprising and provide more accurate information than what is commonly believed within the family. For example, my wife's grandmother never acquired a copy of her own birth certificate during her lifetime. Shortly after she passed away her birth record was acquired from the state bureau of vital statistics and was subsequently examined by family members. It was a shock to the family to learn that grandma was one year older than even she thought! She knew the right day and month, but even she was wrong about her birth year.

Like grandma, there are those who do not have their own birth certificate. Obtaining it will help set the record straight on a lot of specific information about one's birth. If nothing else, getting a birth record will confirm what you already know. It also lays the "groundwork" to gather birth records of living family members as well as ancestors.

Birth information can be found within the archives of many organizations such as: military, church, civil, employment, school, family bibles, wills, etc. Actually acquiring the birth record itself from the state bureau of vital records, or wherever the official record is archived, will narrow down the search and save a lot of time.

Before checking with the state, you'll want to first check to see whose birth records you have. Then check with relatives and family members to see what they have. If that does not prove fruitful, then begin the search in the state's bureau of vital records index. If the birth date is earlier than about 1900, then check with the state archives—chances are you'll find them there.

Also keep in mind that various towns, cities, and counties may have birth records that the state archives may not have. Some towns within the United States may even have birth records that date back into the 1600s; these commonly originate in areas such as New England and Connecticut.

Some civil registration archives contain birth records that go back as far as the 1800s. This is the case with England, Scotland, Ireland and areas of Germany.

Many reference materials to help you in your search can be found at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. Many of these books, such as the Handybook for Genealogists by Everton Publishers, give listings of websites, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers for libraries, archives, and other useful establishments that can be contacted for birth records. Various state and local genealogical societies, libraries and archives can be found and contacted the same way. Reference consultants at all these places are focused on helping people get started in the search for birth records and other information. You'll find them generally happy to spend time with you on your research.

If you are seeking a birth record in a foreign country or have a line that is particularly difficult to research, it may be necessary to enlist the help of a trained and experienced professional. Many professional genealogists also have built relationships with professionals in other states or countries that can provide invaluable input and service into genealogical research.

We start with ourselves by gathering our own records. We then move backwards in time gathering our ancestors' records. Birth records and information becomes "the bridge" that spans the gaps from one generation to another. They are the most valuable of all vital records, for they tell first-hand the information of the very first and greatest event in every person's life.


Russell Bangerter, president of Ancestral Connections Inc., graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in family history/genealogy. After an LDS mission to Scotland, he served 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserve and Idaho National Guard as chaplain's assistant, where he worked with records.

Bangerter researches professionally, writes and compiles family history books, and enjoys lecturing on the subject. He can be contacted at www.ancestralconnect.com or 801-254-9023. He and his wife reside in South Jordan, Utah.